Thy Kingdom Come

THE kingdom of heaven excels all other kingdoms in its peaceful nature. It is regnum pacis, a kingdom of peace. Peace is the glory of a kingdom; pax una triumphis innumeris melior, [one peace is better than countless victories]. A kings crown is more adorned with the white lily of peace, than when beset with the red roses of a bloody war. But where shall we fmd an uninterrupted peace upon earth? Either there are home-bred divisions or foreign invasions. “There was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in” (2 Chron. 15:5). But the kingdom of heaven is a kingdom of peace; there are no enemies to conflict with; for all Christs enemies shall be under his feet, (Psl.110:1). The gates of that kingdom always stand open: “The gates shall not be shut at all;” to show that there is no fear of an assault of an enemy, (Rev. 21:25). When the saints die they are said to enter into peace, (Isa. 57:2). There is no beating of drums or roaring of cannons; but the voice of harpers harping, in token of peace, (Rev. 14:2). In heaven, “righteousness and peace kiss each other”.